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Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

wsj.com

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Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#41

Post by prawn »

api wrote: post #22
3327 wrote: post #13

I would say apple has no domain expertise and they should focus on what they focus on. This is positive news for the "future" no matter how it is seen. It might very well be the largest mistake Apple has ever done and seal its demise or the smartest move and they will be a global dominant company even more so than today...

Apple has more than enough money to try 50 experiments like this.

Or even just five large-scale projects.

Surely one would be a TV. Smart TVs right now are woeful, and just providing a weak set-top box on the side might provide something at an accessible price point, but it doesn't solve the real problem.

An ideal smart TV would pre-fetch EPGs to load and switch quickly, have an optional social layer over the video feed (like what Xbox One proposed), and more naturally fit in with other hardware and ways of getting media to the screen.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#42

Post by FireBeyond »

[deleted] wrote: post #31
deeths wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course at one point they had no domain expertise with phones...

[deleted]

Xerox might argue with that. The phrase "personal computer" was around in 1970, and the Alto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto) was released in 1973.

http://blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml discusses a variety of personal computer milestones, sadly also disagreeing that "Apple literally invented the personal computer".

Down vote if you find what I'm saying factually wrong.

-- signed, someone who lives in a household with 2 rMBPs, an iPhone 6, 5S, 2 iPad Airs, and an iMac.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#43

Post by Cookingboy »

click170 wrote: post #9
pasta_2 wrote: post #5

Nice of Elon Musk to open source Tesla's patents, will make things easier for Apple.

Who would you rather buy from though? The innovator, or the imitator? Price may be the differentiating factor, but I think most ppl would choose the innovator.

People buy from whoever makes the best product at the best price.

Regular consumers can careless about who had the original idea, they only care about who executed best.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#44

Post by Cthulhu_ »

prawn wrote: post #41
api wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has more than enough money to try 50 experiments like this.

Or even just five large-scale projects. Surely one would be a TV. Smart TVs right now are woeful, and just providing a weak set-top box on the side might provide something at an accessible price point, but it doesn't solve the real problem. An ideal smart TV would pre-fetch EPGs to load and switch quickly, have an optional social layer over the video feed (like what Xbox One proposed), and more naturally fit in with…

And not, you know, have always-on voice recognition and a camera and stuff. Or advertising.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#45

Post by [deleted] »

aetherson wrote: post #29
hmottestad wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only domain expertise they had on phones was the itunes phone with motorola. And then they launched the iphone. Same goes for the ipod. Only thing they had expertise in was computers. And with computers becoming extremely important for cars, they might just have a chance. Just as much as google, and they don't have any particular domain knowledge either (ie. they have never sold a car before).

Computers aren't that important for cars. I'll gladly believe that Apple will produce a car with a completely amazing user experience for its center console. But I'll take a car with a less amazing user experience for its center console if it drives better, gets better mileage, has lower maintenance, costs tens of thousands of dollars less, and looks good on the outside. Apple has no expertise there, and it's a compl…

[deleted]

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#46

Post by [deleted] »

FireBeyond wrote: post #42
[deleted] wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

Xerox might argue with that. The phrase "personal computer" was around in 1970, and the Alto ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto ) was released in 1973. http://blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml discusses a variety of personal computer milestones, sadly also disagreeing that "Apple literally invented the personal computer". Down vote if you find what I'm saying factually wrong. -- signed, someone who lives in a househo…

[deleted]

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#47

Post by r00fus »

On one hand, Apple is clearly not in their wheelhouse when it comes to vehicles - even Google has more experience than them.

On the other hand, I would kill for an electric (or even hybrid) minivan. The Model-S with 2 extra seats just isn't enough room.

On the gripping hand, look at how Apple played the industry and pundits on sapphire. Where is WSJ getting their info - they didn't even describe their sources.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#48

Post by prawn »

acgourley wrote: post #40
prawn wrote: post #35

I think eventually minivans will be a quite popular format for autonomous vehicles. Full size buses are inconvenient for suburban streets, while vehicles for single occupants may be priced out in on-demand situations for many trips. Already, minivans are very popular in unofficial public transport systems in many less-developed countries. In Morocco, grand taxis are old Mercedes sedans that leave when full - they're…

I like your point about in-car leisure. As autonomous driving unlocks it in a new way, I would expect our for forays into autonomous vehicles to attempt to highlight the luxury of this. It certainly seems more appealing than tightly gripping the arm rests while you observe how the robot is doing. I would add that interchangeable parts are probably not going to be a focus. The auto industries are pretty efficient at m…

More so a convertible interior than interchangeable parts. As with how RVs convert dining areas to beds, or how an SUV's rear seats fold down to provide more cargo space.

I think a comfortable, self-driving car would be a quite pleasant alternative to flying in many cases, especially if you're likely to be hiring a car at the other end anyway and have a good amount of gear to stow on a trip.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#49

Post by trhway »

orbifold wrote: post #21
trhway wrote: post #4

DMCA - the law to protect platforms - has very interesting implication of silo-ization of the tech. Any tech, like in "tech"nology civilization. Marching into the brave new world of silos, a car is an easy addition to Apple platform, while GM would need to build a platform to add to their cars.

I think you are deluding yourself, if you believe that an average person would choose their car based on the entertainment system.

>I think you are deluding yourself, if you believe that an average person would choose their car based on the entertainment system.

who said entertainment system? Design is among, if not the, main aspects when people decide on tech choice. With cars being electric - simple commoditized drivetrain - design will become even more important.

Re: Apple Gears Up to Challenge Tesla in Electric Cars

#50

Post by ohquu »

orand wrote: post #12
orand wrote: post #6

At first I thought this was crazy. Then I realized it's all about extending Apple's ecosystem of hardware + software + services. Better together. Plus, they make their profits off hardware.

Wow, two downvotes in ten minutes! I'm honestly at a loss as to why. If anyone could clue me in, I'd be grateful. Thanks. Edit: very funny, you mysterious downvoters. Now the downvotes are on _this_ comment, and the original one has been upvoted 4 times. And I still haven't learned how/why I should change my behavior in the future. The only thing I've learned is that up/down voting seems to be random.

Stop caring so much.
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